Lifting device for percussion drilling cuttings

ABSTRACT

A lifting device for cuttings made in cable tool drilling comprising an elongated body having a central portion of &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;H&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; cross section including a central web and a cavity opening outwardly from each side, staggered integral lifting fins being disposed along the two opposed walls of the cavities and adjacent said web, each fin having a flat cuttings supporting surface and tapering downwardly to merge with the wall, and attaching means at each end for operative insertion of the device in a drilling string.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Allen E. Bat-dwell Princeton, NJ.[21] Appl. No. 789,542 [22] Filed Jan. 7,1969 {45] Patented July 6, I971[73] Assignee Waltlum Industries Corporation New York, N.Y.

[54] LIFTING DEVICE FOR PERCUSSION DRILLING CUTTINGS 11 Claims, 3Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl..... 175/324 [51] lnt.Cl E2lc 15/00 [50] Field of Search175/308, 320, 323, 324,414

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,095,062 4/1914 Young175/414 1,801,968 4/1931 Montgomery 175/323 UX 2,566,913 9/1951 Watson175/323 X FOREIGN PATENTS 206,517 5/1908 Germany 1. 175/320 PrimaryExaminer-Ernest R. Purser Attorney-Rogers, Ezell, Eilers and RobbinsABSTRACT: A lifting device for cuttings made in cable tool drillingcomprising an elongated body having a central portion of "H" .crosssection including a central web and a cavity opening outwardly from eachside, staggered integral lifting fins being disposed along the twoopposed walls. of the cavities and adjacent said web, each fin having aflat cuttings supporting surface and tapering downwardly to merge withthe wall, and attaching means at each end for operative insertion of thedevice in a drilling string.

' .931 PATENTEU JUL BIS?! 3. 590

A u Z2 2 1 LlFTING DEVICE FOR PERCUSSION DRILLING CUTTINGS BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention relatesgenerally to the art of cable tool drilling, and more particularly to anovel device for insertion in a cable tool drilling string forcooperating with water or other fluid in lifting cuttings towards theground surface.

2. Description of the Prior Art Cable tool drilling is an old art.Through the years many efforts have been made to supply effective meansfor lifting cuttings towards the ground surface in an efficienteconomical manner. Much time is lost in removing cuttings, required topermit satisfactory drilling to proceed. There has long existed the needfor a device which will effectively, economically and satisfactorily aidin lifting cuttings towards the ground surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, in a preferred embodiment, thepresent novel cuttings lifting device comprises an elongated body havinga central portion of H cross section including a central web and acavity opening outwardly from each side thereof. Staggered cuttingslifting fins are formed integral with the two opposed sides of eachcavity, or are secured therein, which are adjacent the web. Each finincludes a horizontal platform or a pocket adapted to physically supportcuttings in the lifting stroke of the drill which converges downwardlyto merge with the cavity wall. At the upper end of the body is athreaded boss for removably securing the device to the next higher unitor element of the drill string, and at the lower end a threaded well forreceiving a drill bit. I

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel cuttingslifting device which fulfills the need long existing in the industry foran effective, economical and satisfactory structure for assisting inlifting cuttings in cable tool drilling, and the like, towards theground surface.

Other objects are to provide a novel cuttings lifting device which isconstructed to create high turbulence with each stroke of the cabledrilling tool to keep the cuttings mixed with the slurry and out fromunder the drill bit so the drill bit can keep cutting fresh rock witheach stroke, which is of sturdy H" beam design stabilizing the bit andtools in the drilling hole to help prevent slanted holes, which isconstructed to provide tool string weight without loss of mixing area,and which otherwise fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

BRIEF DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of acuttings lifting device looking into one elongated cavity, incorporatingthe principles of the present invention, a drill bit in broken linesbeing shown attached to the lower end;

FIG. 2 is a transverse, enlarged cross-sectional view taken onsubstantially the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken onsubstantially the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing moreparticularly by reference numerals, indicates generally a cuttingslifting device incorporating the teachings of the present invention. Thedevice 10 includes an elongated body 12 having the central portion ofl-l" cross section including a central web 14 and outwardly facingshallow cavities 16. Within each cavity 16 and integral with the opposeddefining walls thereof are spaced staggered lifting fins 18, each ofwhich has a substantially flat lifting surface 20 and tapered sides 22.At-the upper end of the body 12 is an attachment portion 24 having areduced threaded extremity 25. At the lower end of the body 12 is anattachment portion 28 having a threaded well 30 for receiving a drillbit 32.

It will be appreciated from'the foregoing that the lifting fins 18,which may be secured in the cavity rather than be formed integral withthe body 12, create high turbulence in the slurry with each'of the 5060strokes per minute as the cable tool is lifted and dropped in drilling.The fins [8 keep the cuttings mixed with the slurry and out from underthe drill bit so that the drill bit keeps cutting fresh rock with eachstroke. On the upstroke of the drilling tool and the lifting device, theflat portions 20 of the lifting fins 18 act like lifting platforms tophysically move the cuttings upwardly. On the downstroke, the slurryrushing up through the center of the water course pulls the cuttings offthe platforms and leaves them at the height of the stroke. The fins 18may take other configurations having lifting surfaces. Thus, it ismanifest that the objectives of the invention have been achieved.

It is manifest that there has been provided a cuttings lifting devicewhich fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and theaccompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example.It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements,rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, whichwill be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as withinthe scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claimswhich follow.

I claim:

1. A device for lifting percussion drilling cuttings adapted formounting in a percussion drilling string for reciprocating gravity dropand cable lift action comprising an elongated body, said body includinga central portion having at least an elongated axial cavity therein,said cavity comprising an effective water course, cuttings lifting meansin such cavity, and means for operatively mounting said device in apercussion drilling string.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said central portion has an elongatedcentral web and an outwardly facing cavity at each side of said web.

3. The device of claim 2 in which cuttings lifting means are in eachcavity.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said elongated body includes opposedaxially extending walls, and said cuttings lifting means includesstaggered fins on said opposed walls, each fin having a surface forphysically lifting cuttings.

5. The device of claim 4 in which said fins and cavities cooperate inagitating slurry in percussion drilling to lift cuttings on the upstrokeand float cuttings from the fins on the downstroke.

6. The device of claim 4 in which said fins are of decreasing crosssection from the lifting surfaces towards the drill bit when said deviceis in a drilling string to minimize turbulence of the drilling fluidthereby in the drilling stroke.

7. The device of claim 1 in which said cuttings lifting means includeslifting fins, said fins being spaced axially in said cavity, each finincluding a lifting surface.

8. The device of claim 7 in which said fins are of decreasing crosssection from the lifting surfaces towards the drill bit when said deviceis in a drilling string to minimize turbulence of the drilling fluidthereby in the drilling stroke.

9. A device for lifting percussion drilling cuttings adapted formounting in a percussion drilling string for reciprocating gravity dropand cable lift action comprising an elongated body, said body includinga central portion having at least an elongated axial cavity therein,said cavity comprising an effective water course, cuttings lifting meansin such cavity, and means for operatively mounting said device in apercussion drilling string, said elongated body including opposedaxially extending walls, and said cuttings lifting means includingstaggered fins on said opposed walls, each fin having a surface forphysically lifting cuttings.

10. The device of claim 9 in which said fins and cavities cooperate inagitating slurry in percussion drilling to lift cuttings on the upstrokeand float cuttings from the fins on the downstroke.

11. The device of claim 9 in which said fins are of decreasing crosssection from the lifting surfaces towards the drill bit

1. A device for lifting percussion drilling cuttings adapted formounting in a percussion drilling string for reciprocating gravity dropand cable lift action comprising an elongated body, said body includinga central portion having at least an elongated axial cavity therein,said cavity comprising an effective water course, cuttings lifting meansin such cavity, and means for operatively mounting said device in apercussion drilling string.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which saidcentral portion has an elongated central web and an outwardly facingcavity at each side of said web.
 3. The device of claim 2 in whichcuttings lifting means are in each cavity.
 4. The device of claim 3 inwhich said elongated body includes opposed axially extending walls, andsaid cuttings lifting means includes staggered fins on said opposedwalls, each fin having a surface for physically lifting cuttings.
 5. Thedevice of claim 4 in which said fins and cavities cooperate in agitatingslurry in percussion drilling to lift cuttings on the upstroke and floatcuttings from the fins on the downstroke.
 6. The device of claim 4 inwhich said fins are of decreasing cross section from the liftingsurfaces towards the drill bit when said device is in a drilling stringto minimize turbulence of the drilling fluid thereby in the drillingstroke.
 7. The device of claim 1 in which said cuttings lifting meansincludes lifting fins, said fins being spaced axially in said cavity,each fin including a lifting surface.
 8. The device of claim 7 in whichsaid fins are of decreasing cross section from the lifting surfacestowards the drill bit when said device is in a drilling string tominimize turbUlence of the drilling fluid thereby in the drillingstroke.
 9. A device for lifting percussion drilling cuttings adapted formounting in a percussion drilling string for reciprocating gravity dropand cable lift action comprising an elongated body, said body includinga central portion having at least an elongated axial cavity therein,said cavity comprising an effective water course, cuttings lifting meansin such cavity, and means for operatively mounting said device in apercussion drilling string, said elongated body including opposedaxially extending walls, and said cuttings lifting means includingstaggered fins on said opposed walls, each fin having a surface forphysically lifting cuttings.
 10. The device of claim 9 in which saidfins and cavities cooperate in agitating slurry in percussion drillingto lift cuttings on the upstroke and float cuttings from the fins on thedownstroke.
 11. The device of claim 9 in which said fins are ofdecreasing cross section from the lifting surfaces towards the drill bitwhen said device is in a drilling string to minimize turbulence of thedrilling fluid thereby in the drilling stroke.